More than 1.5 billion women around the world do not need essential health screenings.

MARLBOROUGH, Mass. –(Business WireMore than 1.5 billion women worldwide are undiagnosed for cancer, heart disease, diabetes or sexually transmitted diseases/infections – even though these conditions together affect billions of women. The findings come from one of the world’s largest surveys of women’s well-being: the second annual Hologic Global Women’s Health Index.

The report, released today, identifies several barriers to women’s prevention services. These barriers include struggles to find adequate food and shelter, lack of educational opportunities, and threats to women’s safety. They contribute to widening gaps in women’s well-being across high- and low-income countries, urban and rural areas, and individuals with high and low levels of education. The barriers fuel a great deal of stress, anxiety, grief and anger among women worldwide.

All 122 countries and territories assessed in the index have significant room for improvement in women’s health. The average global score was only 53 out of 100, with the highest score being 70 for Taiwan and the lowest score being 22 for Afghanistan.

Steve McMillan said: “The lack of progress and, in some cases, backward momentum warrants a strong wake-up call for world leaders to do more for women.” Hologic, Inc. is a global medical technology developer. (Nasdaq: HOLX) Chairman, President and CEO. “Reliable data can make a real difference, and we look forward to empowering leaders around the world to use the Index to keep women safe.”

Hologic created the index in partnership with leading analytics firm Gallup. For the second annual report, nearly 127,000 people worldwide – 66,000 women and girls aged 15 and over – were surveyed in 2021 in more than 140 languages. This massive reach means the index represents 94% of the world’s women and girls.

We’re proud to partner with Hologic to empower women to talk to leaders about their health needs. “As we work with policymakers across the continent, we emphasize the importance of taking a holistic approach to advancing women’s safety,” said Gallup Managing Partner Vipula Gandhi.

The index provides a framework for achieving inclusive growth. It addresses five intersecting dimensions of women’s health: preventive care, basic needs, health and wellness considerations, personal health, and emotional health. Together, these dimensions account for more than 80% of the global variation in women’s life expectancy. It directs leaders to focus on early detection and treatment of disease, creating strong safety nets for basic necessities such as food and shelter, protecting women’s safety, and investing more resources to increase socioeconomic equity.

Deficiencies in these fundamentals create challenges that prevent women from prioritizing their health. About 85% of women surveyed for the index believe in the importance of regular visits to a health care professional, but less than 60% have visited a doctor, nurse, midwife or other health care provider in the past year. Only 12% of women have been diagnosed with any type of cancer.

“As a physician who has worked with patients in many parts of the world for decades, I have seen firsthand how early detection can make a significant difference in a woman’s life and quality of life. But when women have to choose between getting health care for themselves and getting the next meal for their families, it can take a toll on their health. “It’s important for policymakers to see preventive care as a multifaceted, interdependent, and mutually beneficial approach.”

To learn more about the Hologic Global Women’s Health Index, visit womenshealthindex.com.

Hologic Global Women’s Health Index: Fast Facts

• what One of the world’s leading women’s health surveys is conducted by global medical technology innovator Hologic and global analytics leader Gallup. The second Hologic Global Women’s Health Index report was released on September 21, 2022.
• Scope: The latest report is based on a survey of 127,000 people in 2021 – 66,000 women and girls aged 15 and over – in more than 140 languages. This statistical sample represents 94% of the world’s women and girls.
• Levels: The Index assigns a Women’s Health Score (from one to 100) to each of 122 countries and territories and then ranks them. The average global score was just 53, and no country/territory scored above 70.
  • Top countries and territories: Taiwan, Latvia, Austria, Denmark, Estonia, Switzerland, Germany, Czech Republic, Israel and Norway.
  • Low ranking countries and territories: They are Afghanistan, Congo, Venezuela, Turkey, Lebanon, Togo, Benin, Ecuador, Peru and Gabon.
  • American position 61 points, which ranks the country 23rd.
• Important tests: 60% of female respondents (representing more than 1.5 billion women worldwide) said they had not been screened for cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes or sexually transmitted diseases/infections in the past year. Only 12 percent said they had been diagnosed with any type of cancer.
• health care disparities; Between 2020 and 2021, the gap between top and bottom economies has doubled – to 22 points. Furthermore, the gap between urban and rural women has widened to six points. Regarding educational differences, the gap between women with primary education and those with at least four years of secondary education widened to 13 points.
• emotional health; 43% of female respondents reported experiencing stress, 41% reported feeling anxious, 32% reported feeling sad and 26% reported feeling angry. All of these percentages are the highest since the Gallup World Poll began tracking emotional health more than a decade ago (and initially included similar tracking in the Hologic Global Women’s Health Index).
• Basic needs: 37% of female respondents (representing approximately 1 billion women worldwide) said they sometimes do not have enough money to buy food for themselves and their families, while 30% (representing approximately 800 million women worldwide) sometimes do not have enough money for shelter.

About Hologic, Inc.

Hologic, Inc. It is a global medical technology innovation focused on improving women’s health and well-being through early diagnosis and treatment. Advances include the creation of the world’s first commercial 3D mammography system to combat breast cancer. leadership in diagnosing cervical cancer, sexually transmitted infections, respiratory diseases and the virus that causes Covid-19; and minimally invasive surgical technologies for uterine fibroids and abnormal uterine bleeding.

The company also championed women through Hologic’s Global Women’s Health Index and Project Health Equity, which provides a science-backed data roadmap to improve women’s well-being, providing research insights and access to quality care for underserved women.

About Gallup

Founded in 1935, Gallup provides analytics, management and educational consulting, as well as the Clifton Strengths Assessment. His Gallup World Poll is the largest and most comprehensive survey of the world’s adult population, linking it to annual national surveys of more than 90% of the world’s adult population. The Gallup World Poll has become an essential tool for global leaders and decision makers who need to understand the hopes, dreams and behaviors of the people they serve.

Source: Hologic, Inc.